Rainfall Variability, Drought Characterization, and Efficacy of Rainfall Data Reconstruction: Case of Eastern Kenya
Joint Authors
Kisaka, M. Oscar
Mucheru-Muna, M.
Ngetich, F. K.
Mugwe, J. N.
Mugendi, D.
Mairura, F.
Source
Issue
Vol. 2015, Issue 2015 (31 Dec. 2015), pp.1-16, 16 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2015-03-19
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
16
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
This study examined the extent of seasonal rainfall variability, drought occurrence, and the efficacy of interpolation techniques in eastern Kenya.
Analyses of rainfall variability utilized rainfall anomaly index, coefficients of variance, and probability analyses.
Spline, Kriging, and inverse distance weighting interpolation techniques were assessed using daily rainfall data and digital elevation model using ArcGIS.
Validation of these interpolation methods was evaluated by comparing the modelled/generated rainfall values and the observed daily rainfall data using root mean square errors and mean absolute errors statistics.
Results showed 90% chance of below cropping threshold rainfall (500 mm) exceeding 258.1 mm during short rains in Embu for one year return period.
Rainfall variability was found to be high in seasonal amounts (CV = 0.56, 0.47, and 0.59) and in number of rainy days (CV = 0.88, 0.49, and 0.53) in Machang’a, Kiritiri, and Kindaruma, respectively.
Monthly rainfall variability was found to be equally high during April and November (CV = 0.48, 0.49, and 0.76) with high probabilities (0.67) of droughts exceeding 15 days in Machang’a and Kindaruma.
Dry-spell probabilities within growing months were high, (91%, 93%, 81%, and 60%) in Kiambere, Kindaruma, Machang’a, and Embu, respectively.
Kriging interpolation method emerged as the most appropriate geostatistical interpolation technique suitable for spatial rainfall maps generation for the study region.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Kisaka, M. Oscar& Mucheru-Muna, M.& Ngetich, F. K.& Mugwe, J. N.& Mugendi, D.& Mairura, F.. 2015. Rainfall Variability, Drought Characterization, and Efficacy of Rainfall Data Reconstruction: Case of Eastern Kenya. Advances in Meteorology،Vol. 2015, no. 2015, pp.1-16.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1052714
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Kisaka, M. Oscar…[et al.]. Rainfall Variability, Drought Characterization, and Efficacy of Rainfall Data Reconstruction: Case of Eastern Kenya. Advances in Meteorology No. 2015 (2015), pp.1-16.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1052714
American Medical Association (AMA)
Kisaka, M. Oscar& Mucheru-Muna, M.& Ngetich, F. K.& Mugwe, J. N.& Mugendi, D.& Mairura, F.. Rainfall Variability, Drought Characterization, and Efficacy of Rainfall Data Reconstruction: Case of Eastern Kenya. Advances in Meteorology. 2015. Vol. 2015, no. 2015, pp.1-16.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1052714
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1052714